Elon Musk, the tech mogul and CEO of X (formerly Twitter), took to the platform to express his disbelief over a statement made by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during the recent vice-presidential debate. The debate, which took place on Tuesday, featured Republican Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Governor Walz (D-Minn) discussing various topics, including the 2020 election results, the January 6th Capitol attack, and gun control.
During the debate, Governor Walz addressed the issue of school shootings and explained why he changed his stance on banning assault weapons. He shared a personal anecdote, stating, “I sat in that office with those Sandy Hook parents. I’ve become friends with school shooters. I’ve seen it…I’m of an age where my shotgun was in my car so I could pheasant hunt after football practice. That’s not where we live today.” He further emphasized the rise in suicides and children’s access to firearms, advocating for solutions that protect both the Second Amendment and children.
Musk, known for his outspoken nature and controversial opinions, reacted to this statement on Wednesday, writing on X, “Mind-blowing that Tim Walz said he was ‘friends with school shooters’.” He even added sarcastically, “He didn’t even get fact-checked lmao.”
Musk’s comments contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the vice-presidential debate. During the debate, Governor Walz urged Senator Vance to acknowledge Donald Trump’s 2020 election defeat and linked the January 6th Capitol attack to Trump’s refusal to concede. It’s noteworthy that Musk also praised both vice-presidential candidates for their civility during the debate.
The debate, as per CNN’s flash polls, saw 51% of registered voters who watched the debate picking Senator Vance as the winner. However, the debate’s focus shifted towards Governor Walz’s statement about being ‘friends with school shooters,’ sparking controversy and further fueling the ongoing discourse on gun control and its implications on societal safety.
